Wheeling Daily Intelligencer
Death of Patrick Gass
April 11, 1870
We have to record this week, the death of Patrick Gass, for many years a celebrity in this county, which occurred on Saturday morning, April 2, at the residence of his son-in-law, James Smith, near Buffalo Mills. Had he lived until the 11th of June coming, he would have reached the extreme age of ninety-nine years, having been born, says the record, in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, June 11, 1771, and come with his father to catfish camp, now Washington, as early as 1785, since which period, except when in the public service, he has resided in this vicinity uninteruptedly. He has been for many years, so far as known, the sole survivor of the adventurous company of forty-three officers and privates, who under Lewis and Clark, made the celebrated exploring over the Rocky Mountains and back, being the first white men who ever accomplished it. This was in 1804-5-6, during the administration of Mr. Jefferson, and the results of the expedition were justly regarded and widely published as of immense and national importance. Mr. Gass published a private journal of his observations during this expedition, now many years out of print, but at the time a work of some notoriety. In 1858 a condensation of it, with various incidental matters from Mr. Gass and from other sources, was issued from this office.
After his return from this expedition he remained several years in the United States service, served through the war with Great Britain, and could give a graphic description of the bloody fight at Lundy's Lane, in which he participated. He lost an eye in the service and for many years up to the time of his death, had been in receipt of a pension from the government. During all his long life, though not exempt from frailty, Mr. Gass preserved an unblemished reputation. A couple of years ago, he united himself, by immersion, with the Disciples Church. The last few years of his life, he was blind and somewhat hard of hearing, but otherwise enjoyed good health almost up to the time of his death. He was buried by the side of his wife on the farm of Mr. Bowman. It was the intention to donate a lot in Brooke Cemetery where the remains of himself and wife might be deposited with due honor, but this was abandoned, on the representation that he had expressly requested that it should be otherwise. Wellsburg Herald
Exploration, Settlement and Conflict (1600-1799)